Hand-grenade with time-fuse and automatic release.



N. W. AASEN. HAND GRENADE WITH TIME FUSE AND AUTOMAHC RELEASE. APPLICAHON FILED mm 20. I911.

; Wm Patented Au 13, 1918.

NIELS WALTERSEIN MSEN, F CHRISTIANIA, NORWAY.

HAND-GRENADE WITH TIME-FUSE AND AUTOMATIC RELEASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

Application filed .1 My 20, 1917. Serial No. H1328.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, N IELS ,WALTERSEN AASEN, a subject of the King of Norway,-residing at Christiania, Norway, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Grenades with Time-F uses and Autoinatic Releases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear. and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention relates to a hand grenade with time fuse and has particularly for its object an improved safety device for a grenade of this type.

A form of the invention is illustrated on the drawing:

Figure 1 is an axial section through the grenade.

Fig. 2 is an end View and Fig. 3 is a side view of the same.

The grenade itself consists of the cylindrical box 1 provided with an axial tube :2, in which the ignition mechanism is placed. The latter is ofthe friction type, the movable part 3 of which is actuated by a spring 4, which on the drawing is shown in a compressed condition. The spring 4: is pressing against a disk 5, which is supported against one leg of the angular member 13. The friction cord 3 is fastened to two hoops on the disk 5 by means of pin 6.

The ignition mechanism ignites a fuse 7 through which the fire is conducted to the detonator 8 which in turn ignites the explosive charge in the grenade box itself. The detonator 8 may be placed in the tube 2 through the lower open end of the same and .is kept in position by means of wood plug 9 and screw cap 10. The explosive charge is introduced in the grenade through the neck 11 covered by screw cap 12.

The spring 4: is maintained in a compressed condition by means of the said angular member 13, one leg of which extends across one end of the box over the disk 5, while its other leg lies along the side of the box. The angular member 13 is kept in pos1- tion by means of a hook or catch 14 gripping one free end of one leg of the angular member 13, while the other leg is held against the side of the box by means of a ribbon 15 wound about the same, and as a further safety against loosening of the member 13 a bolt 17 with a fiat head 18 is introduced through a hole in the long leg of member 13 into a recess 16 in the side of the box. The said bolt may be made hollow as illustrated on the drawing and should then be provided with a Weight 19 in order to be easlly acted upon by centrifugal force. The ribbon 15 is wound over the flat head 18 of this bolt. The angular member 13 has its lower end bent as shown at 20 in order to grip the lower edge of the box, so that it can not perform an axial movement even if the hook 1 is loosened or broken off.

Covering the ribbon and bolt 17 a plate 21 is mounted on the grenade box by means of four ears 22 and a wire book 23, the two legs of which fit into the cars 22 protruding through plate 21.

In the above described condition the gre-. nade is packed for transport. In order to use the grenade the safety hook 23 is first taken out, so that the plate 21 is loose, and thereupon the grenade is gripped with the right hand and thrown with the thumb on the covering plate 21. After having passed a number of meters (for instance 8 meters) through the air the ribbon rolls ofi and the safety bolt 17, 18 slips out of its hole. The angular member 13 is then not longer pressed against the side of the grenade and is swung off pivoting on the hoop 14, the spring 4 pressing disk 5 with friction device upward. The fuse is ignited and the same is so proportioned that after an ordinary throw it ignites the detonator immediately after the grenade has struck the ground. If the grenade is thrown too short, it will however roll along the ground before exploding, which is an advantage for instance in case the grenade should drop a short distance in front of an enemy trench.

'The detonator may be transported separately and put in place immediately before the grenades are distributed to the troops. or the detonutor may be put in place by the thrower himself.

The grenade above specified besides its simple and cheap production also offers the advantage of greater safety against involuntary explosion than the grenades hitherto in use.

At the same time the security of the ex plosion is very great, the same being not dependent on the grenade striking hard ground, which is mostlyThe case in grenades with percussion fuse. The safety hook 23 is easily removed so that after a little experience a soldier is able to prepare and throw as many as 25 grenades aminute.

5 I claim:

1. In a hand grenade with time fuse a springactuated friction device for igniting the fuse of the grenade automatically when released, and a ribbon wound about the body 1 of-thez-grenade-in such a manner as to keep the-springina compressed condition, said ribbon being: arranged to unwind itself,when the grenade: lSillloM'Il, thereby releasing said spring.

: 2; In: aihandgrenade with time fusea spring actuated frictiom device for igniting thefuse of the grenade automatically. when released, van:angularmember the short leg of, which lies across one-endof'thegrenade body. and ;acts 1S -;1;'SllpPOIt'= for: the spring of the friction, device,- the free: endiof said short-i leg being gripped by a hook fastened to the grenade body, the other leg-of'said angular member lying agamst-the side of the' grenade box, and aribbonwound about the grenadebody. and leg for securing-the said angular member in its-position on the grenade.

3.111 a haudgrenadewith time fuse a spring-actuated; )fl'iC iOD-I device. for igniting th'e fuse of the grenade-automatically when released, an angular member the SlIOItElGg of which lies. across one enil ofzthe grenade body\ and iactsasasupport for thespring of the friction: device, the free end of said short leg being. gripped by a heolrfas'tened to theigrenade body, the ot-her legrof'said angular member-lying. against the. side -of thmgrenade box, a; bolt with a.- flat head 40-passing1 through whole in said leg ofthe v angular member, andia ribbon wound about thevgpenade body: overi said. bolt and lock fen securingrtheisaid angular member in its position onathe-egrenade:

4. In a hand grenade with time fuse a spring actuated friction device for igniting the fuse ofthe grenade automatically when released, an angular member the short leg of which lies across one end of the grenade body and acts as a support for the springof the friction device, the free end of. said short leg being gripped by a hook fastened to the grenade body, the other leg of said angular member.- lying against the side of the grenadeborr, and a; ribbon: wound about thegrenade body' and legfonsecuringthe saidangularmember in its position on the grenade, the leg oit'the angular memberiextendingalong-tlie'side ofthei grenade being bent inwardly at its loweriendc so as to grip the-edge of; the-'ga'enaderbody in orderto prevent axial displacement'ot' theanguler member even if the-hook gripping tllBlOtllBIi' leg of rthersamevshoudd be broken.

5.- In. a. handl'agrenadewithttime-fusera spring-actuated friction device for igniting the fuse ofth-e grenade autonwticalhywhen released, ant-angular member the-short leg of which; lies across one end. of theagreuade body and acts. as aisnpportwfer the: spring of the friction deviceiithei ftee-endiofzsaid short leg b'eing gripped byia. hook fastened to the grenade body, the other legroifi said: angular-membeplying against the side of the grenade box, and a ribbon Woumhabout ,75 the grenade body and 116g; for securing: the said angular memberrin .its position on; the grenade, and a covering plate fastened. to the side of-the grenade bodyioner the ribbon by means of-ears ofthergrenadeibodyzandra pin through saiduears. 1

In: testimony. that I; claim; the foregoing asi-my. invention, Iihave-signedmy-name in= pnesenoeof two sabseribi =witnes%sr NIELS- WALTERSEN' ALASEN).

Witnesses: 4 l

KARL 12.. LEE; C. VARMAN; 

